Senior Program Associate

THE ORGANIZATION
The Center for Court Innovation is committed to reducing crime and incarceration, addressing violence, supporting survivors, and building communities while strengthening public trust in justice. The Center seeks justice for marginalized groups, bringing an equity lens – particularly a racial and gender equity lens – to its work. For 25 years, the Center has worked to foster justice and equity to create safe, healthy, and thriving communities and, ultimately, to transform the justice system.

The Center is an 800-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs
The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Court, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research
Researchers at the Center conduct independent evaluations, documenting how government systems work, how neighborhoods function, and how reform efforts change things. We believe in the “action research” model; accordingly, our researchers provide regular feedback on the results of the Center’s own operating programs. The Center has published studies on topics including youth in the sex trade, reentry, gun violence, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Our researchers have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals.

Policy & Expert Assistance
The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center’s Training and Technical Assistance department provides training, tailored recommendations, and collaborates with practitioners and policymakers to strengthen practice and launch reforms nationally and internationally. The department’s work encompasses community courts, drug treatment courts, Native American/Alaska Native tribal courts, prosecutor-led diversion initiatives, procedural justice, pretrial supervision, and many more areas of justice system reform.   

The Training and Technical Assistance department is seeking an energized, extremely well-organized Senior Program Associate to aid in its efforts to provide expert assistance to jurisdictions across the U.S. and internationally, to work primarily on national community justice projects. This will include providing project administrative support to the department, hands-on assistance to specific jurisdictions, as well as supporting trainings, site visits, convenings, and the development of written resources. Reporting to the Operations Coordinator of Technical Assistance, the Senior Program Associate will coordinate technical assistance projects in a variety of subject areas. 

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: 

• Coordinate project activities and performance for a wide range of projects, including federal grants, fee for service contracts, and sub-contracts from various funding sources; 

• Respond by phone or email to requests for practitioners for technical assistance, including by conducting research and preparing brief reports in response to specific queries; 

• Assist with the scheduling, planning, and coordination of team meetings, project meetings, trainings, and other events;  

• Plan and host site visits to the Center’s local operating programs from visitors from around the world; 

• Assist in the research and development of content for national and international trainings, written reports, and other practitioner tools and resources; 

• Design and deliver long distance training and technical assistance via webinar, videoconference, and other electronic means; 

• Work with department staff to plan and deliver on-site training and technical assistance to judges, court administrators, criminal justice practitioners, and other stakeholders and partners; 

• Track the department’s training and technical assistance activities and preparing detailed monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual reports to funding agencies; 

• Prepare expense reports for department leads; and 

• Complete additional relevant tasks, as needed. 

Qualifications:  The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and 2-3 years of experience working in project management related to the criminal justice system, preferably in a community court or justice reform setting. Strong writing and organizational skills are essential. The position will require travel. The preferred candidate will have: 

• Superior written and verbal communications skills; 

• Meticulous attention to detail and organizational skills;  

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well with justice system professionals, including judges, attorneys, law enforcement, treatment providers, and others; 

• High proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and other networking and project management software, platforms, tools, and applications; and

• Be a self-starter, and ability to work independently and manage many projects simultaneously.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $55,410 - $66,300 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Court Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Court Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. The Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system.

As of September 9, 2021, all new hires are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for medical, disability or religious reasons by the Center’s Human Resources Department.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls please.